Democrats in Congress Vote Yes for Ramadan and No for Christmas

by Amanda Carpenter - TownHall.

posted 12/12/07

Democrats who supported a House resolution to honor Ramadan voted against a similar resolution to honor Christmas and Christianity last night.

18 Democrats voted “nay” or “present” on a resolution to “recognize the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.” An eagle-eyed Republican House staffer points out that those same members, with one exception, voted to “recognize the commencement of Ramadan,” a Muslim religious observance in October.

Nine Democrats voted against the Christmas resolution. They are:

• Rep. Gary Ackerman (N.Y.),
• Rep. Yvette Clarke (N.Y.),
• Rep. Diane DeGette (Colo.),
• Rep. Alcee Hastings (Fla.),
• Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.),
• Rep. Jim McDermott (Wash.),
• Rep. Robert Scott (Va.),
• Rep. Pete Stark (Calif.) and
• Rep. Lynn Woolsey (Calif.).

Another nine Democrats chose to vote "present." They are:

• Rep. John Conyers (Mich.),
• Rep. Barney Frank (Mass.),
• Rep. Rush Holt (N.J.),
• Rep. Donald Payne (N.J.),
• Rep. Allyson Schwartz (Pa.),
• Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.),
• Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.),
• Rep. Peter Welch (Vt.) and
• Rep. John Yarmuth (Ky.).

Each of them supported the Ramadan resolution except for Rep. Lee, who did not vote.